Melissa DiCato scored a game-high four goals as the Royal High of
Simi Valley girls' water polo team accomplished what no Marmonte
League team has done in five years: defeat Agoura.

The Highlanders upset the Chargers 9-7 on Tuesday at Calabasas High
to hand Agoura its first league loss since Newbury Park beat the
Chargers in the final league game of 1998.

Agoura (7-3, 2-1), ranked second in Div. IV of the Southern
Section, has won five consecutive league titles and is the area's
only team to win a Southern Section title in the sport.

Royal (7-2, 4-0) has threatened in recent years, but indicated it
was stronger than usual this season by earning a No. 3 ranking in the
division.

``It's the year we knew we could come into games and
compete,'' Highlanders coach Devin Hurst said. ``They knew
they could win - or at least have a chance to win - and they played like
they believed that.''

Agoura led 4-2 at the half before Royal took a 7-6 lead in the
fourth quarter.

Less than a minute after Agoura tied the score, Sharleanna
Richardson scored on a 6-on-5 advantage to give the Highlanders the lead
for good with 4:16 remaining.

``It was back and fourth the whole game like we expected it to
be,'' Agoura coach Jason Rosenthal said. ``We had a couple of
opportunities at the end we didn't put in, and they did on
theirs.''

Amy Antonsen scored a team-high two goals for the Chargers, who
also had five saves by goalkeeper Nicole Sandefur.

Richardson contributed three goals for the Highlanders.

The victory is Royal's first over the Chargers since the
inaugural season of Marmonte play in 1997-98, when Royal finished second
and Agoura was third.

The teams meet again Feb. 3 at Rancho Simi Park. However, Agoura
faces another tough team right away as the Chargers play Thursday at
Thousand Oaks, the division's fourth-ranked team.

OTHER WATER POLO

Marmonte League

--Newbury Park 18, Moorpark 8: Visiting Moorpark had no answer for
Bridget McKee, who scored eight goals as Newbury Park got a much-needed
victory to keep itself in contention in the league race.

A loss would have all but eliminated Newbury Park (7-7, 1-3), which
is a game behind Westlake, a 9-3 winner over visiting Calabasas on
Tuesday.

--L.A. Baptist 8, Fillmore 0: Kristy Krohn scored four goals,
increasing her total to 23 in 10 games this season, as L.A. Baptist of
North Hills (9-1) won at home.

The senior captain has scored 103 goals in her four-year varsity
career and said she is receiving recruiting interest from Portland and
Cal State Northridge.

``Kristy is very intense. Super tenacious,'' L.A. Baptist
coach Gilbert Bautista said. ``She out-quicks people to the ball then
makes a beeline to the goal. She has speed you can't teach and
that's her biggest asset.''

--Malibu 5, St. Monica 1: Malibu's Teresa Deacy entered the
home game with one goal but scored three times, once in the first half
and twice after halftime.